Downton’ debate: Bill would end regular review of OETA

Friday

OKLAHOMA CITY – It could be because of the television show Downton Abbey. Or, perhaps it’s the result of an aggressive outreach and education plan.

OKLAHOMA CITY – It could be because of the television show Downton Abbey. Or, perhaps it’s the result of an aggressive outreach and education plan.

Whatever the reason, state lawmakers appear to be scaling back their criticism of the Oklahoma Educational Television Authority after several years of trying to cut its budget and sunset it as a state agency.

Last week, state Rep. Harold Wright, R-Weatherford, filed House Bill 2678, which would end OETA’s sunset status, meaning it would no longer be subject to review every two years.

Under the state’s sunset law, Oklahoma agencies, boards and commissions are reviewed regularly by the Legislature. Lawmakers are charged with eliminating entities that they feel no longer perform their stated purposes.

Wright said no good case could be made for making the OETA subject to a sunset review every two years. The public television authority, which holds broadcast licenses across the state, provides a tremendous service to residents, he said.

"We have debated the future of the OETA on the floor every two years because of the sunset clause, and we always support it in the end," Wright said in a media statement. "A sunset provision is unnecessary, but if we did allow OETA to sunset, it could jeopardize these licenses."

However, during the 2013 legislative session, lawmakers came close to shutting down OETA and eliminating its budget. State Rep. Leslie Osborn, R-Tuttle, offered a bill to gradually reduce state funding to OETA by 20 percent each year for the next five years. Osborn said her goal was to completely eliminate government funding by the fiscal year ending in June 30, 2017. That bill, however, failed for lack of support.

The OETA, which receives about $3.8 million in state funds each year, is the only appropriated Oklahoma agency subject to the sunset review process.

Wright’s bill comes on the heels of a poll from the University of Oklahoma that shows the OETA remains very popular across the state. According to the poll, more people trust the OETA than the court system and the federal and state governments.

"Overall, there is general agreement that public television and, more specifically, OETA, is not a thorn in Oklahoma’s side," according to a summary of the poll.

The poll also showed significant support for a funding increase for the agency.

Dan Schiedel, OETA executive director, said the agency is part of state government’s core mission.

"I’m hopeful (Wright’s bill) would put an end to the question to whether or not OETA should cease to exist," he said. "It’s a great treasure to the state."

The OETA, Schiedel said, is focused on providing educational television and multimedia services on a statewide basis.

"I think more people are seeing the value of what we are doing and the impact we are having on people’s lives," he said.

The House of Representatives’ former appropriations chairman agreed. State Rep. Earl Sears, R-Bartlesville, said the time has come to end the debate.

"They call themselves Oklahoma’s storyteller," Sears said. "I think that captures the essence of OETA and the importance of the role they play. I think it’s the best $3.8 million we can spend."

A spokesman for Republican Gov. Mary Fallin said Fallin supported the agency’s efforts. Alex Weintz, Fallin’s communications director, said the executive budget would not include a proposal to eliminate funding for the agency.

"The governor thinks there are good people there doing good work," Weintz said.

State Sen. James Halligan, R-Stillwater, said he supports the concept behind Wright’s bill.

"I am a big backer of OETA," he said. "I would not support sunsetting it."

Wright’s bill will get its first review when state lawmakers return to the Capitol on Feb. 3.

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